Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

BBC News

• A83 Rest and Be Thankful diversion route 'almost ready' Work on an emergency diversion route for a road frequently hit by landslides in Argyll is almost complete.
• Kent bus fee decision for grammar and faith schools reviewed A decision to scrap free transport for children attending faith and grammar schools in Kent is to be reviewed.
• Passengers stranded overnight at King's Cross station Scores of passengers were left stranded at London's King's Cross station overnight after the last train to Leeds was cancelled.
• Chalkwell gardeners cause rail delays Two gardeners have been warned about the "dangers" of the railway, after they were seen pruning trees from the side of a track in Essex.
• £7m bid for new Worcestershire Parkway railway station Worcestershire County Council is to bid for £7m of government money to go towards the construction of a third railway station in Worcester.
• Probe into fire on Tyne and Wear Metro train An investigation into a fire which saw passengers flee a Tyne and Wear Metro train is focussing on emergency exits.
• Locomotive re-painted for steam train anniversary A Doncaster-built locomotive is being repainted in preparation for the 75th anniversary of a steam train landmark.
• Electric car plugs get 75% subsidyThe government announces that it will cover up to 75% of the cost of installing charging points for electric vehicles in garages and driveways.

Financial Times

• Minister confident over high-speed railThe government is determined a looming legal decision on the track connecting London to the north will not derail the £34.5bn project, says Simon Burns
• Lufthansa to suspend dividendsEurope™s largest airline by sales said €524m operating profit had been affected by restructuring charges, adding it would intensify cost savings efforts
• Eurotunnel ferry entry showdown loomsThe UK regulator says the group™s purchase of three ferries from SeaFrance will ˜increase its already high share of the cross-Channel market™

The Herald

• Glasgow bus route changesGLASGOW'S main bus network is facing its biggest revamp since the millennium.
• Upgrades due to cut 18 minutes off M8 journeyA MAJOR roads upgrade that will take 18 minutes off the journey between Glasgow and Edinburgh has moved a step closer.
• Deal makes it easier to find cheaper rail faresTRAIN passengers are in line to make significant fare savings after a deal was struck between the Government and the rail industry to make sensitive ticket data freely available.

The Telegraph

• Britain's worst driver fails record 107 test attemptsBritain's worst driver has failed a record 107 attempts at the car theory test and is still yet to pass.

Mail Online

• Government invests another £37m in electric cars despite only 2,000 being sold last yearTransport secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced cash subsidies intended to give more incentive to install charging points so the electric cars’ batteries don’t run flat.
• Cheaper BA flights if you only have hand luggage as airline takes on budget rivalsBritish Airways are planning to offer cheaper rates for those willing to only use hand luggage when they travel. The airline is taking on its budget competitors that have been using this tactic to draw in more traffic.

The Mirror

• Off yer bike: Royal Mail bosses tell posties to ditch their bicycles due to health and safety Managers told staff that bikes are no longer suitable as posties are handling more parcels than in the past

ATOC

• Investment in electric charging points at railway stationsResponding to the DfT's announcement of a £37 million package of funding to support electric car charge points, some at rail stations,...

Network Rail

• Rail Delivery Group enhances leadership role with appointment of Director-GeneralThe Rail Delivery Group™s leadership of Britain™s railways has been reinforced by its formalisation as Rail Delivery Group Limited.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bid to get delayed Low Moor railway station back on track The delayed new railway station at Low Moor, Bradford, could be back on track if a fresh funding bid gets the green light from transport bosses.

Liverpool Echo

• £3m to be spent improving Liverpool key routes, roads and pavementsAROUND £3m is to be spent sprucing up main roads and junctions just north of Liverpool city centre.

London Evening Standard

• News in brief: EasyJet™s Moscow flight under threat, Eurozone hopes boost Germany, Europe™s car sales fall to a new lowOne month before easyJet launches a new route to Moscow, the airline still doesn™t have a flight permit from Russian authorities.

Sheffield Star

• Have your say on South Yorkshire rail compensationRESIDENTS living on or close to the route of the proposed HS2 high speed rail line through South Yorkshire are being asked for their views about compensation.

The York Press

• Big fun with little trains at the National Railway Museum CHEFS from the National Railway Museum café in York tested out these ride-on locomotives ahead of their Big Fun With Little Trains event.

Yorkshire Post

• Coffee-powered car proves an espresso as it roars to recordThe driver of a coffee-powered car set a speed record yesterday.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Get bikes marked at police cycling eventCyclists in Bretton can get their bikes security marked at a safety event on Saturday (February 23).
• Bus users meet to discuss proposed funding cutsTuesday, 9.35pm: Public transport users have tonight (February 19) been voicing their concerns about Peterborough City Council’s plans to cut its financial support to bus services.

Other Regional Press

• For sale: A mile long Tunstall railway tunnel (video) A DISUSED Victorian railway tunnel has gone up for sale in the hope someone can breathe new life into the ageing structure.
• Local News: Plan revealed to dismantle planes at Durham Tees Valley AirportDURHAM Tees Valley Airport is set to become a centre for the storage and dismantling of unused aeroplanes, it was announced this afternoon.
• Reckless drivers in Aberdeen ignoring road closure signRECKLESS drivers were today blasted by police for ignoring a road closure sign.
• Cash boost puts Swanage Railway plan on track THE Purbeck Community Rail Partnership has welcomed a £1.47million government grant for the Swanage Railway.

Global Rail News

• Running freeThere are good opportunities for those seeking virtue at Christmas-time. Donate to charity; attend midnight mass; force down a third Brussels sprout without grimacing. Or, if you are responsible for a 53 hour possession starting just when Santa should be doing the rounds, show your face on Christmas morning to see how your site team [...]
• Atkins eyes Indian infrastructure investmentAtkins has expanded its reach in India with the opening of a new design centre on the outskirts of Delhi. The new hub will add a further 375 engineers to the British firm’s 1,000-strong workforce in Bangalore. UK Government Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green will officially open the site tomorrow (February 20) as part [...]
• Alstom warns of West Coast hiatus job lossesTrain builder Alstom has warned that the two-year hiatus before a new West Coast franchise is let could lead to the loss of around 500 jobs across the rail industry. Scrapping the franchise contest means that there is now no contract for interior refits, all franchise bidders had identified £50 million needed to carry out [...]
• Ground broken on Alicante train shedConstruction of a new train shed to house high-speed AVE services from Madrid is now underway at Alicante station. The project is part of the second phase of the Madrid-Levante high-speed line. The 3,500 square metre L-shaped extension will connect to the existing station concourse, allowing high-speed services to continue on to the station from Valencia. [...]
• Fortaleza World Cup rail link on scheduleOfficials from the Brazilian state of Ceará have visited Fortaleza to see how rail infrastructure projects in the city are shaping up ahead of the 2014 World Cup. Ceará’s infrastructure secretary, Adail Fontenele, and World Cup secretary, Ferruccio Feitosa, witnessed firsthand the work being carried out on the VLT Parangaba-Mucuripe extension – a 12.7 km [...]

Aviation Industry

• American Airlines' CEO in line for $20 million severanceBy DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer FORT WORTH, Texas - Tom Horton won't get to lead the new American Airlines after it merges with US Airways, but he'll get a going-away prize of nearly $20 million.
• Flights axed as Iberia workers stage first walkoutHundreds of flights cancelled as employees start five-day industrial action
• BA unveils first 'hand baggage only' faresAirline launches new fares on five short-haul routes from Gatwick
• El Al to extend premium economy productIsraeli carrier set to complete fleet refurbishment by June

Other News Sources

• Bob Crow on Metro strike picket line Thursday 21st February 2013 - 17.00 Outside Newcastle Central StationRMT Churchill Cleaners on the Tyne and Wear Metro, continuing a seven day long strike against poverty pay and in support of their long running campaign for a workplace justice, will be holding a picket line at 17.00 on Thursday 21st February 2013 outside NEWCASTLE CENTRAL STATION and will be joined on that picket line by Bob Crow, RMT General Secretary.
• Bullying and intimidation rife in Welsh rail strike ballotRAIL UNION RMT today demanded an immediate end to a systematic and co-ordinated campaign of bullying and intimidation of cleaners employed by Churchill's on Arriva Trains Wales who are currently balloting for strike action in a dispute over pay and workplace justice.
• News from Darren Johnson AM: TfL spend on river crossings proposals set to top £20m 19 February 2013 TfL spend on river crossings proposals set to top £20m In response to a formal question tabled by Darren Johnson AM, the Mayor of London has revealed that Transport for London will spend a further £6million in 2013/14 investigating options for new river crossings in east London. The Mayor stated last week œWe are going to do a Blackwall 2 tunnel by 2020(1). river crossings, TfL, Mayor ...
• Jolly Boatman railway station plans rejected CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating a partial victory after a proposal to demolish part of Hampton Court railway station was turned down by councillors.
• May Gurney and WSP pick up £200m highways dealA £200m Suffolk highways deal which was previously given to Balfour Beatty as preferred bidder has been awarded to a partnership between May Gurney and WSP.
• Cumbria contractor tops Network Rail supplier ranking tableNetwork Rail has updated its performance delivery and enablement league tables with Cumbria-based contractor Story Contracting™s rail arm ranked top for performance delivery.
• Two teams shortlisted for Transport Scotland £415m dealTwo teams have been shortlisted to carry out work for Transport Scotland under the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements scheme.